Chapter 43
Mrs. Annesley bowed her head. Taking a deep breath, she began, speaking rapidly.
“My real name is Mrs. Bird. My husband died two years after our marriage. Consumption. We were not blessed with children of our own and, being an only child, I had always wanted a large family. My mother was a midwife, and after I had married, she taught me her trade. The fever took her, and I was truly alone. Widowed and of meager means, I sought employment. I remember the day I first met Mrs. Finchley.” She pinched her eyes closed and took a deep breath.
Darcy leaned forward, willing her to return to her narrative. Elizabeth wrapped her fingers around his, and Darcy pulled her closer.
“She had the reputation of never losing a lady,” Mrs. Annesley continued, her voice edgy and bitter. “She was so knowledgeable and kind. How I wish I had never crossed paths with her. She is a monster.” Mrs. Annesley’s chest heaved.
After a few calming breaths, she resumed her story.
“After assisting her with a birth, during which she observed my skills, she asked me to work as her nurse. She offered me a higher wage than my mother ever made. I ought to have known, I ought to have been suspicious, but her clientele was of a higher status than I was accustomed to. I dismissed my doubts and took the position. When she swore me to secrecy and indebted me to her by securing me a more presentable wardrobe along with new instruments, I assumed she was only being kind, only protecting the reputations of the ladies she assisted—not all of them being wed, mind you. Midwives must be discreet above all else if our services are to be sought after.”
A nauseating twist turned Darcy’s stomach. He looked at Georgiana, who looked as ill as he felt.
“Are you willing for Miss Darcy to hear the rest?” Mrs. Annesley asked.
Aunt Helen wrapped her arm around Georgiana. “Keep the details to a minimum. But she has a right to know what happened to her brother.”
“Very well.” Mrs. Annesley took another deep breath and resumed, “Mrs. Finchley is a skilled midwife, but that pales in comparison to her role as a procurer.”
“Please explain,” Uncle said.
“She procures children for families willing to pay to adopt or foster. For a greater sum, she procures a child for barren couples in need of an heir. She procures young ladies from privileged families for her lying-in houses. For a fee, she sees the lady through her confinement and disposes of her inconvenient child, thus preserving the family’s dignity and the lady’s reputation. ”
Elizabeth raised her hand to her mouth, gasping between her fingers. “Disposes? You cannot mean … she murders babies?”
Darcy felt acid burning in his throat. All those names, all the times disposed was written beside them.
“There is no delicate way to put it. Quiet death, natal death … they are all the same. The babe is starved to death after its birth, making it look as though it was stillborn or died during birth. It is impossible for the doctors to know the difference, and by the time he arrives, the young lady is removed as though nothing has happened.”
“What of the children who survived?” Darcy asked. Like Nick. Sold, then disposed.
“They were sold. Some as slaves, the more fortunate to prominent families. Others were adopted, such as in Miss Rothschild’s case.
” Mrs. Annesley bowed her head, her voice soft.
“I am so sorry you have lived with doubt all your life when I might have eased your mind. Had I met you earlier, I would like to think I would have found a way to tell you the truth.”
“You know my story? You knew my real mother? My father?” Miss Rothschild’s voice choked.
“Mr. Rothschild’s sister suffered the consequences of her indiscretion.
She was only fifteen and innocent in the ways of the world, as is too often the case with young ladies of the gentle class.
The family sent her to one of Mrs. Finchley’s lying-in houses, a discreet cottage in the country the villagers know not to ask questions about.
She bore a healthy child—a girl with flaming red hair. Just like her mother, I was told.”
“Me?” Miss Rothschild’s legs buckled, and Richard wrapped his arm around her waist before she dropped.
“Miss Rothschild, apparently your mother refused to give up her child. She wrote to her brother expressing her wishes. But she died of a fever not one month later. He paid Mrs. Finchley for her silence, and he adopted you as his own.”
“He really was my family after all?” Miss Rothschild whispered. “And my father? Do you know who he is?”
“I am sorry, I do not know. There were so many children. I only know of your case because it was one of the first I came across after accepting my position as Mrs. Brown’s replacement. She started this list. A maid in a lying-in house slipped it to me.”
“Why did you not come forth? Why the silence until now?” Miss Rothschild whimpered.
“There are no laws against what she was doing. What Mrs. Finchley was doing was respectable … on the surface. She was providing a safe haven for ladies in a terrible situation, and she was procuring homes for some of the infants. It would have been her word against mine, and I had no basis other than this list left behind by Mrs. Brown to make any accusations. Once I realized what happened to the children deemed ‘inconvenient,’ I started adding to this list, collecting my own proof. I befriended the other midwives and nurses she trained. They knew I had Mrs. Finchley’s confidence, so I was able to gather a good deal of names and stories.
Most of them appreciated the opportunity to admit the truth to someone who would not turn them in.
We were all indebted to Mrs. Finchley, you see.
She made certain of that. And anyone who got too greedy or had a change of conscience ended up dead. Like Mrs. Currey. And Mrs. Brown.”
Richard held up the pages. “This is a great deal of evidence.”
“I thought that if I could secure enough to thoroughly accuse her of her crimes, she might be stopped. Her influence is strong. One word from her, and some of the most influential families in England would be embroiled in scandal. These are people who will do anything to cover over their indiscretions.”
As much as Darcy wanted to argue, Mrs. Annesley was right. If it became known that an heir of an established family in the first circles was adopted or otherwise procured, their privilege and status would be endangered. The scandal would be unbearable.
Mrs. Annesley continued, “But I asked too many questions. Some of the nurses grew suspicious of me, and I was found out. Mrs. Finchley threatened me. She told me how easily she had disposed of her first two nurses. One suffered from a sensitive conscience and would have destroyed the operation before she had a chance to fully establish her planned business. The other had blackmailed her for years and got too greedy for her own good. She would have killed me had her pistol not misfired. I ran. With the list and the money I always sewed into my gown, I made my way to Ramsgate.” She met Darcy’s eyes.
“And that was where I recognized your surname from the list. Her first victim.”
“Why did she do it?” Darcy asked.
“A family of the aristocracy had approached Mrs. Finchley some time before. They were willing to pay an exorbitant sum for an heir, and while she had no idea how to provide them with what they wanted, she recognized the opportunity your mother presented to her. An heir and a spare.”
Richard gasped. “When I spoke with Mrs. Finchley, she told me she always took advantage of opportunities that fell into her lap.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “Had I only known how literally she spoke.”
Darcy tucked Elizabeth’s hand in his arm, close to his chest. “How did my mother not know? Was nobody else in the room?”
“Evidently, the birth had exhausted Lady Anne so greatly, she was too weak to even notice what happened. When the second twin came, Mrs. Finchley told her it was the afterbirth. Her Ladyship was none the wiser. It was her first child, and she trusted the highly recommended midwife. The nurse snuck the baby out of Pemberley in a basket of blankets she said she was taking to the wash.”
Nick crossed his arms. “I didn’t end up with no fine family.”
Mrs. Annesley bunched her cheeks. “The family you were supposed to go to—I do not know their names, so you may save your breath—they had intended to live on the continent. The arrangement suited Mrs. Finchley perfectly. After all, she could not allow you to meet each other or risk a mutual acquaintance associating you together. But the gentleman’s father died suddenly, and he had to assume the responsibilities of his inheritance immediately.
It was a real problem. She could not sell you to the family as she had intended, nor could she return you to the Darcys. ”
Alex huffed, “So she dumped me Nick off at an old fisherman’s hut?”
“Just so.”
Darcy felt Elizabeth’s fingers pinch his arm. “Why did you continue in this deception? Did you not have enough evidence to take to the authorities? That list is impressive in its length.”
Mrs. Annesley shook her head. “The prosecution would have fallen squarely on my shoulders. Mrs. Finchley would have discredited me before I could even present my proofs. She would have the complete support of the families intent on keeping their secrets safe.” She turned to Uncle.
“Had I told you that your own nephew had a secret twin, would you have believed me?”
“I see your point,” he admitted.
She turned to Darcy, her eyes pleading for a reply.
He had to own to the truth. “I would not have believed you until I saw Nick with my own eyes.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “I would have exposed myself and secured nothing more than my own death sentence. All those children, all those families who have no idea what really happens at her lying-in houses … they would continue in their ignorance while those innocent babies are slaughtered right under their noses—their own kin. When I saw Miss Darcy, saw that she was of an age to require a companion, I made myself available. What safer place could I find than with the Darcys—a family Mrs. Finchley avoided for the failure and danger they represented to her?”
Darcy straightened. “Your references were impeccable. I checked them myself.”
Clasping her hands together and looking down, she said, “Forgive me, sir, but after years surrounded by criminals, it was not very hard to fake my references. A few coins here and a few well-placed mentions at the right places there … I know it was wrong to deceive you, and my guilt has increased with every kindness you and Miss Darcy have extended to me. I accept full responsibility for my deception. I lied to you to secure my position. I kept silent when I might have spoken. I know you to be a gentleman of strict values and unbending honor, but I hope your sense of justice will encourage you to trust me now.”
Strict and unbending. Months before, Darcy would have taken Mrs. Annesley’s assessment of his character as a compliment. Today, they felt like blows. Swallowing his tattered pride, he asked, “Why did you flee?”
“Mrs. Finchley called here, at Matlock House. She recognized me. I knew she would come after me, and I feared Miss Darcy might come to harm should she attempt to protect me. Fleeing was the only way I could keep Georgiana away from that monster until you returned and I could throw myself on your mercy and beg you to help me put an end to this devastating business.” Pressing her hands together in supplication, she pleaded, “Please, let us help those ladies and children in her clutches, and then you may do with me what you feel is best. I shall not run from you.”
Nick leaned closer to Darcy. “We’ve tarried long enough. Why waste time on this fish when there be a bigger shark in the waters?”
Darcy nodded. Nick was right. He addressed Mrs. Annesley. “We must go after Mrs. Finchley immediately. How you act henceforth shall determine how we deal with you later.”
“Thank you, sir,” she answered gratefully.
Georgiana went to her, wrapping her arms around her shoulders. “My brothers are fair. You can trust them.”
“They have already been more understanding with me than I had dared to hope. I will not abuse their kindness.”
Uncle cleared his throat, commanding attention.
“Darcy, Nick, you shall accompany me to Mrs. Finchley’s residence.
We shall ensure she is in and keep guard to ensure she does not attempt to escape until the authorities arrive.
Richard, you shall accompany Mrs. Annesley and Miss Rothschild to Bow Street.
Summon Mr. Rouncewell and as many constables as you can to meet us. ”
Mr. Gardiner prepared to take his leave. “We shall return to Gracechurch Street. If I may be of any service, please do not hesitate to send for me. However, right now I believe my wife and I shall feel better once we have seen our children are safe with their nurse.”
“Of course. I shall keep you informed of any further developments,” Uncle offered.
Alex tugged on Elizabeth’s hand, pulling Darcy with her. “Then we’ll return to Gracechurch Street with ye. I’ll go mad not knowin’ what’s happenin’, but I promised Mr. Bennet I’d keep her safe.”
With a parting squeeze, Elizabeth let go of Darcy. It took all of his resolve not to pull her back into his arms. She smiled at him, and her parting image haunted him across town as his sense of loss deepened.